Pest Control Info
Calistoga, CA

Aedes mosquitoes are a species of mosquito identified by their black body and white spots. Commonly known as ankle biters, these mosquitoes tend to bite hosts from the knee down. Aedes mosquitoes breed by laying their eggs in water, similar to the Anopheles mosquito. While both adult male and female mosquitoes feed on nectar, only females require blood to reproduce. They are most active during the early evening times.

Drywood termites are cream white to light brown in color. They prefer dry wood above ground and survive off of the moisture from consuming wood and in the air around them. They are usually found in warmer, tropical climates and their size varies depending on social class. Drywood termite infestations may be discovered by seeing swarms of termites, discarded wings after swarms occur, and mounds of fecal droppings the termites leave behind. Do not store firewood or excess wood close to your home, seal any cracks and crevices to prevent entryway into your home, and stay up to date with termite inspections to prevent an infestation of drywood termites from occurring.

Oriental cockroaches have a shiny black exterior. Males grow to 25 millimeters in length and have short wings. Females reach 32 millimeters and do not have wings. Oriental cockroaches are commonly found in dark and damp areas such as drain pipes, sewers, basements, and crawl spaces. They prefer to feed off of trash and decaying organic matter. While their bites are not dangerous, they can spread many diseases by simply walking around. Take care of any leaks, regularly clean garbage cans, and seal off potential points of entry to prevent them from entering a home.

Linepithema humile, also known as Argentine ants, have smooth, shiny, light reddish-brown bodies that only reach 0.3 millimeters in size. Argentine ants typically build shallow nests underground in moist soil, by sidewalks, or underneath rocks. They are drawn to open food containers, kitchen grease, sugar, and other dead insects.

Roof rats have long bodies covered in soft brown fur. They have light colored bellies and long skinny tails. A mature roof rat’s body can reach up to 8 inches in length with their tail measuring up to an additional 10 inches. They prefer to nest in areas of such as attics, ceilings, and behind walls. Roof rats are food hoarders by nature and seek out fruit, nuts, and seeds to transport back to their nest. Seal any cracks in foundations or siding, repair gaps in doorways, and screen windows to prevent them from coming inside your Calistoga, CA home.

Ground Crab Spiders are shaped like the crab you might see at the beach with wide flat bodies and legs extending from their sides. They are often gray, brown, or tan and grow to about 1/2 of an inch in size. Their 8 eyes are located on a raised bump to give them a 360 view. Their diet primarily consists of mites and other small pests. They are truly ground spiders and do not spin webs, but hide in tree bark and other dark locations.

Forest Yellowjackets have the traditional black and yellow wasp coloring and can grow up to 15 millimeters in length. They predominantly nest high up in trees. Due to their reclusive nature, Forest Yellowjackets will aggressively swarm and attack potential threats. Their nests are smaller in size and usually contain about 500 wasps inside. They feed off of nectar and will seek out sugary substances.

Ixodes scapularis, commonly known as Deer Ticks, are a species of tick that exhibit a reddish-brown coloration with a hard, black exoskeleton, and can grow up to 3 millimeters in length. These ticks are notorious for their ability to transmit Lyme disease, a debilitating bacterial infection. Deer Ticks are known to lurk in tall grass and brushy areas of Calistoga, CA, waiting for a suitable host to walk by, at which point they attach themselves and begin feeding until fully engorged.

Bed bugs are the size of an apple seed and are brown in color. They feed off of blood by biting their host causing itchy and irritable sites. Bed bugs are commonly found in furniture, mattresses, headboards, and hiding in small areas. Keep a regular cleaning schedule, minimize clutter in your home, and be cautious while traveling to prevent bringing them back to your home.